Hove Park Colts lifted the Sussex Les Kempster Challenge Trophy (under-13s) after an impressive 6-0 victory over Rustington Otters.

Three goals in each half put the game beyond the Otters who did have a number of chances of their own throughout the match but failed to capitalise on them.

Hove Park Colts started the game full of purpose and were ahead after just two minutes. Captain Frank McMillian twisted and turned in the penalty area, and just as the ball looked to have got away from him he stretched out a leg to poke the ball low past Otters goalkeeper Paul Cook.

The Colts doubled their lead on the ten minute mark. A long kick upfield from keeper Finley Jenkins sailed over the Rustington Otters backline and released Sam Bull who struck a wonderful half-volley that flew over the stranded Cook and into the back of the net.

Despite the early two goal setback Rustington grew into the game and had three good opportunities to get back into the game in quick succession.

First off Tom McKee’s shot from close range was deflected just over the crossbar by a last ditch tackle. The resulting short corner saw James Sudds cross find McKee again and this time his powerful goal-bound drive was saved by the legs of Jenkins.

Three minutes later a deep free-kick from Otter’s defender Ben Hack was spilt by Jenkins into the path of Ethan Lloyd, but he could only direct his first time effort narrowly wide of the target.

Rustington were made to rue those missed chances as Hove Park Colts extended their lead in the twenty third minute. Bull’s free-kick struck the wall and fell back to him to try his luck again, this time his strike deflected off his teammate Kiran Mahapatra and nestled into the bottom corner giving Cook no chance.

Rustington had the first opportunity of the second-half as Dolaghan shot straight at Jenkins when well placed with just one minute of the half played.

At the other end Ossie O’Neill nearly added a fourth for Hove Park Colts but he put the ball just over the crossbar after a low cross was pushed out to him by the sprawling Cook.

The Colts did add a fourth ten minutes later, as Keane Rodrigues was put through and he kept his composure to slot past the onrushing Cook.

Rodrigues had another chance soon after, Conner Collcutt squared the ball to him but could only blaze over the cross bar when well placed. Collcutt then had a chance of his own but shot straight at Cook.

Hove Park Colts were all over their opposition at this stage with wave after wave of attacks, the lively Bull was next to threaten as he charged forward with the ball before dragging his shot across goal inches wide of the far post.

It seemed a matter of time before the Colts got another goal and two came along in quick succession to add further gloss to the victory.

In the sixty second minute a long ball forward was not dealt with by the Otters backline and Collcutt took full advantage by collecting the ball and striding forwards before slotting it low past Cook the advancing Cook.

Just two minutes later the sixth goal arrived for Hove Park Colts. Bull’s shot across goal from the edge of the box looked to be heading wide but for the intervention of Mahapatra who stretched and stabbed the ball into the corner from close range for his second goal of the game.

Mahapatra nearly completed his hat-trick a minute later, as he again linked up with Bull but he could only fire straight at Cook in the Rustington goal.

There was still time for Rustington to try and grab a consolation goal late on. Baptiste D’Abadie De Lurbe’s shot went just wide, which Jenkins did appear to have covered, and in the final minute a deep free-kick was spectacularly sent back across goal courtesy of Alex Pearce’s overhead kick, but Ethan Lloyd was unable to apply a meaningful touch to direct it in.

After the match triumphant Hove Park Colts manager Aaron Stenning said: “It was a really good start from us, the boys did really well and I think we caught them cold and two quick goal set the precedent for the rest of the game, so I am really pleased.

“We did ride our luck a little bit after that, but the third goal sealed the game as they then had to go for it which left gaps at the back, and we kept going forward utilised the spaces well and scored another three goals in the second-half.

“Overall it was a really good team performance, and it was probably the best we have played for around three or four months so I’m absolutely over the moon, it’s the double treble for us!"

(A selection of photographs can be found on Facebook - courtesy of Simon Roe Photography)
(Video highlights are available above and also on YouTube - courtesy of FilmMyMatch)

Stats: (Rustington Otters-Hove Park Colts)
Goals: 0-6; Shots: 10-18; Shots-on-target: 4-9; Corners: 1-1; Fouls: 6-13; Offside: 0-5; Yellow cards: 0-0; Red cards: 0-0.

Rustington Otters: Cook, Lanigan, Barnes, Hack, Knight, McKee, Sudds, Pearce, Granger, Lloyd, Chadwick ©.
Subs: Carter, Dolaghan, Murphy, D'Abadie De Lurbe.

Hove Park Colts: Jenkins, Ali, Goss, Mahapatra, Bull, Collcutt, Rodrigues, Furneaux, Ceccarelli, McMillan ©, Fokou.
Subs: Godliman, Fendley, McLuckie, Ground, O'Neill.

Match report by Darren Ford